Living in Peace

True peace is usually something hard to achieve. As Christians we are often told to ‘forgive and forget’ and move on with our lives. While this idea is very simple in theory, it is often hard to achieve, even if we are constantly praying that God would take our unrest and resulting sins and turn them into peace and grace. For example, right now I am seriously struggling with one of my roommates who seems determined to see only the negative in everything.  Even when I think out loud, or make a simple observation or a seemingly innocent comment, she is always ready with negative feedback of some kind, and I have never had to deal with that before. It makes me want nothing to do with her, and then when I do have to be around her, I feel myself getting anxious simply being in her presence because I know something will come if I interact with her.

         This living situation has really been a trial in growing my patience, and in living out Romans 12:18, which says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” It has been so, so hard at times and I have often found myself doing what I can to avoid her, simply to avoid the risk of confrontation. At the same time, when I avoid her, I find myself feeling guilty, because avoiding people doesn’t allow me to share Christ’s love with them. Even though I have known this girl long enough to know that nothing I do or say will change her, I still find myself feeling guilty for not trying sometimes.

          John 14:27a says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”  This tells me that it is not our own peace Christ expects us to live by, but by His own. Without God, ours is not a true peace, but simply a time of semi-calm before something else happens to make you upset again. That is part of why things like stress and anxiety often build up so badly. To experience the ‘peace that surpasses all understanding’ Paul mentions in Philippians 4:7, we have to humble ourselves, ask God for His peace, and then accept it by using it. If you continue to be anxious about something after you have asked for God’s peace that means you aren’t accepting his gift. Trusting Him matters!

          Now, this doesn’t mean that anxiety and stress won’t try to creep back in, because they almost always do. You simply must give it up again and again until your worries over that issue or event stop coming back. And that time may not be until after the event is over! What does matter is that you give it up to God, no matter how many times it takes to do so.

Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.